Atlanta Legal Aid welcomes UPS Fellow
Atlanta Legal Aid Society, Inc., today announced it had welcomed its first corporate-sponsored appointee to the Legal Aid Fellowship Program, an attorney from UPS who has begun a four-month assignment.
The appointment of Ryan Swift, a lawyer at UPS’s headquarters here, is a first not only for Atlanta but also for the nation. More than 100 law firms around the country participate in various fellowship programs with their local legal services agencies, but no corporation has ever assigned one of its attorneys to such long-term assistance.
Swift began reporting last week to Atlanta Legal Aid’s Cobb County office, where he will work for the next four months while continuing to receive his salary and benefits from UPS.
The Fellowship Program of Atlanta Legal Aid immerses young lawyers in a variety of cases and crises, giving them valuable opportunities for court time and for responsibilities that only come much later at a large firm or corporation. Since 1995, 13 Atlanta law firms have sent 39 associates to serve as Fellows at one of Legal Aid’s five offices. Participating firms gain experience for their associates; Legal Aid gains needed support for the work it does.
About Atlanta Legal Aid
Founded in 1924, Atlanta Legal Aid provides civil legal services to low-income persons in Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton, and Gwinnett counties. Last year, it opened approximately 25,000 cases. For information regarding the Atlanta Legal Aid Fellowship Program, contact Steve Gottlieb at (404) 614-3990.
About the Pro Bono Institute
Established in 1996, the Pro Bono Institute is a small non-profit organization housed at the Georgetown University Law Center that provides research, consultative services, analysis and assessment, publications, and training to a broad range of legal audiences.
